3 DeLand residents seriously hurt in Lake County car crash

Three DeLand residents were seriously injured Friday when their car collided with a semitrailer on County Road 44A in Lake County, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

STAFF REPORT

Three DeLand residents were seriously injured Friday when their car collided with a semitrailer on County Road 44A in Lake County, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

The car, driven by Juan Luevano Jr., 22, of DeLand, was traveling east on C.R. 44A about 4:30 p.m., made a U-turn and began traveling west, according to the FHP report.

Trooper C.C. Thompson reported that witnesses said the car appeared to be making a right turn onto Forestdel Drive, then made another U-turn into the path of the truck, driven by Otis Clayton, 61, of Umatilla.

Clayton braked and swerved to the left to try to avoid a collision, according to Thompson's report, but struck the left side of the car.

Luevano and his two passengers, Juan Luevano, 43, and James Blocker, 44, both of DeLand, suffered serious injuries and were transported to Orlando Regional Medical Center.